Emerging Spargo Proves More Than a Fill-In

By LAUREN PETERSON

Sept. 30, 1999 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

VENTURA — Thrust suddenly and unexpectedly into the quarterback position at St. Bonaventure High, senior Michael Spargo might have been caught off guard if not for years of preparation.

“He spent many an hour in this locker room,” said Scott Spargo, Michael’s father and a Seraph assistant coach since 1986, when his son was 4.

“He used to come with me to the school for practices and coaches’ meetings. He used to ride his Big Wheel around the field.”

Michael doesn’t quite remember that, but recalled, “I remember I used to play around with all the bags in the equipment shed.”

Spargo, 17, learned his way around the athletic facilities at St. Bonaventure by tagging along with his father and serving as a water boy and ball boy for the football team.

“I was here before most of these coaches were here,” Spargo said. “It seems like I’ve been around this school my whole life.”

Spargo, who was a reserve wide receiver and quarterback last season--he attempted only four passes as a junior--became the starting quarterback when Chris Lombardo transferred to Newbury Park High in January.

Lombardo, a senior who was the Seraphs’ quarterback in 1997 and ‘98, suffered a season-ending broken leg in Newbury Park’s second game.

“Everybody keeps telling me that quarterback’s my natural position, and I like it,” Spargo said. “I’m really comfortable with things this year, and I think it’s just because I’ve been around it all my life.

“All the watching films, and the coaching and the extra time practicing are paying off right now.”

Spargo, 6 feet 1 and 180 pounds, had his best game last week in a 25-7 victory over Nordhoff, completing 18 of 25 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions.

He was chosen St. Bonaventure’s player of the week over running back Lorenzo Booker, who rushed for a season-high 182 yards in 27 carries.

“We felt that Michael’s presence was the difference,” Coach Jon Mack said.

Although Lombardo completed nearly 63% of his passes for 4,114 yards and 38 touchdowns in two seasons for the Seraphs, Mack said Spargo has made a smooth transition thanks to his intelligence and athleticism.

“Chris has a cannon, great arm strength,” Mack said. “Michael is more of an all-around athlete.”

Spargo played quarterback for his father on the junior varsity team as a freshman and sophomore, leading the Seraphs to a 16-3 record and two Tri-Valley League titles.

He also is a track and field standout, holding the school record in the high jump at 6-4, and he is a starting guard on the basketball team.

“He gives us an athlete at the quarterback position,” Mack said. “We really had a lot of confidence in him. There was no question when Chris left that it was Michael’s turn.”

Spargo takes the role seriously. After learning he would be the starting quarterback, he asked St. Bonaventure coaches for films of last year’s games.

He began playing daily games of catch with Adam Gray-Hayward, Spargo’s best friend and the Seraphs’ top returning receiver. And he treats his offensive linemen to meals at the fast-food restaurant of their choice if no sacks are allowed, which has occurred the last two weeks.

“I’m just trying to do my best for these guys,” Spargo said. “I felt like I had to work harder than I had before, that I had to earn their respect.”

He has done that with his play the first three weeks.

“I think he relished the challenge,” Gray-Hayward said. “He doesn’t get flustered. If something happens, he just sort of accepts it and moves on to the next play, the next series.”

In the Seraphs’ season opener against highly regarded Paraclete, Spargo’s first pass was intercepted. But he rebounded to lead the Seraphs on several impressive drives en route to a 38-11 victory.

In the second game against Channel Islands, Spargo committed turnovers on St. Bonaventure’s first three possessions and was further frustrated by the Raiders’ time-consuming ground game.

“He could have gone in the tank, but he didn’t,” Mack said. “You really forget sometimes that he’s a 17-year-old kid, he’s so mature. He understands to just take things one play at a time, and that’s what he does.”

Spargo recovered and helped the Seraphs rally for a 37-20 victory.

“I think his first two games, he was nervous,” offensive coordinator Tim Gutierrez said. “He was the new guy, he had a lot of weight on his shoulders. But once he gets composed, he’s fine.

“He’s one of those kinds of kids who asks a lot of questions. And he has all the answers. He just has to perform on the field.”

So far, Spargo has come through.